Open for Business! NIL Approved for Florida High Schooler's

NIL-LLC Editorial Published June 4, 2024 3:20 PM EDT

It’s Officially here!

Florida has taken a bold step forward, joining the growing list of states that now allow high school athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The Florida High School Athletic Association made a unanimous decision on Tuesday, June 4^th, 2024, setting a new policy that lets high school athletes tap into NIL opportunities for the first time in history. With this move, Florida becomes the 36th state to embrace NIL in high school sports.

While states like Alabama, Texas, and Mississippi remain on the sidelines, Florida's decision aligns it with Southern neighbors such as Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and North Carolina, all of which have already given the green light to NIL at the high school level.

Florida's new regulations require that NIL negotiations be kept separate from schools and the FHSAA. Additionally, school logos and products can't be used in these ventures.

There are a few key exceptions in the new Florida bylaws, as noted by On3. Firstly, students who transfer mid-season are not eligible for NIL deals during that season unless they receive a special exemption. Secondly, boosters and high schools are prohibited from offering deals to recruit athletes from other schools.

"To maintain amateur status, you can’t accept funds related to participating in a contest.” There should be no pay-for-play taking place.

FHSAA: No NIL Collectives

While college-style NIL is coming to high school sports, college-style NIL collectives won’t — at least if the FHSAA rules hold true.

The FHSAA prohibits schools from setting up college-style NIL collectives, defined under Policy 9.9.4.4 as "groups, organizations, or cooperative enterprises that exist to collect funds from donors and help facilitate NIL deals for student-athletes, and/or create ways for athletes to monetize from their NIL."

As the NIL conversation evolves, it will be intriguing to see, if powerhouse states like Texas and Mississippi, speed-up their NIL legislation at the high school level to keep up with the pent-up demand by student-athletes to receive a seat at the NIL table like their peers from neighboring states.

One thing we know. NIL is not going anywhere, and it will be open to high school athletes in all 50 states very soon.

As parents and student-athletes, it is increasingly important that you quickly learn the rules and regulations of NIL in your state and at your current school. You should also be studying the NIL policies at future school’s you may be considering.

This is the best time ever to be a student-athlete.

Are you ready?

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